Suburban
A HARARE West organisation fronted by MDC Alliance officials was in the eye of the storm once again this week as residents continued to question the operations and relevance of the body in service delivery issues.
Suburban Reporter
This week the organisation, Jokude, which is run by Harare West legislator Ms Joana Mamombe and recalled councillors Mr Denford Ngadziore (Ward 16 Mabelreign) and Mrs Kudzai Kadzombe (Ward 41 Marlborough) invited the scrutiny of residents when it posted a notice looking for companies to work on Mabelreign swimming pool, also known as Sharks swimming pool, solar traffic lights and solar powered boreholes in the constituency.
“Greetings Harare West residents, we are looking for a construction company, solar powered borehole drilling company, solar traffic lights company and a swimming pool company in the constituency to come at Mabelreign (Swimming) Pool ‘Sharks’ Pool for a quotation on works that needs to be done,” Jokude posted on different Harare West residents’ groups.
The message prompted residents to query the operations of the organisation and the fact that interested contractors were being given 45 minutes to respond to the invitation.
“Inga zvakaoma, (It’s really tough), is there enough time for anyone interested to respond?” asked one resident.
Another one chipped in: “What is Jokude? Can someone explain to us what this means because l have been seeing this message in all my groups in my neighbourhood Ward 41.”
In his response, Timothy Ngadziore said: “It’s a registered institution run by our elected officials giving services to Harare West residents.”
But a resident argued that the organisation was a front for MDC Alliance activities saying “Ndezve MDC (It’s an MDC organisation)”.
Timothy Ngadziore argued that the organisation was benefiting all residents but some residents were not convinced.
“Is it? You get elected into office you register a legal institution to do again what you already have mandate to do. Guess all is politics then,” reasoned a resident.
Residents also felt people should declare their interests when discussing issues in reference to Timothy Ngadziore who is a related to Denford Ngadziore.
“Be careful of people here. Vamwe ihama dzevanhu (others are relatives of politicians) and their support is not declared.
“If people discuss issues, it’s best to declare their interests for transparency. People say no politics on these groups. That is the problem we have,” argued one resident.
Other residents felt the organisation was trying to be relevant as the 2023 elections draw near.
Mrs Kadzombe then informed residents that she had instructed the Jokude coordinator to stop posting on the residents’ service delivery groups.
“My sincere apologies I have spoken to the coordinator of Jokude to stop posting in this group and remove it from their broadcast list,” she said.
Last month, Ward 41 residents recently expressed concern over the participation of Jokude in the City of Harare pre-budget meetings.
The residents argued that the participation of Jokude was akin to politicising service delivery.
“With all due respect please don’t politicise service delivery,” complained a resident after Jokude had posted a list of the issues the City of Harare should consider in its 2022 financial budget.
However, some residents felt there was nothing wrong with Jokude participating in the pre-budget or service delivery meetings.
But residents against JOKUDE’s participation insisted the organisation had no authority to be taking part in the meeting or airing residents’ concerns.
“You guys yours is a political outfit of individuals from a political party. Please don’t make yourself an authority of anything, please butt out and let residents air their views directly and not through you,” argued one of the residents.
But those against JOKUDE were adamant that they could air their grievances or budget input as residents and not through politically linked organisations.
Ward 41 residents had earlier clashed over the involvement of Mrs Kadzombe in the pre-budget consultations with some arguing the former representative should not take a lead in the process while others said she was entitled to participate as a resident.
Sentosa residents in Ward 16 have also been questioning what they called a sudden interest of Ms Mamombe in issues pertaining to their suburb saying it could be because the country is approaching elections and campaigning time.
Some residents were strongly against her return on their WhatsApp platform as they felt she was playing politics.
The residents said the legislator never showed interest on issues affecting their ward and they had to address them on their own while others felt she should be added and then they can air their concerns to her.
Ms Mamombe said she has been facilitating some service delivery projects such as boreholes and waste recycling centres through the Constituency Development Fund as well as helping residents resist the invasion and destruction of wetlands in their neighbourhoods.
However, residents have been rejecting Jokude’s participation in service delivery issues saying it was a political organisation advancing the interests of three MDC Alliance politicians.
